Hood latch



March 3, 1942-. w H KRAUSE 2,274,711

HOOD LATCH Filed Aug.. 2, 1940 3 sheets-sheet 1 March 3, 1942.

w. H. KRAusE HOOD LATCH Filed Aug. 42, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Np. .wy n.M n l 4 TIM fw www Md Q y w. H. KRAUSE -Hoon LATCH 'Filed Aug. 2,1940

March 3, 1942.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 matically Patented Mar. 3, 1942 '2,274,711 noon'wrcnWalter H. Krause, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Forging aManufacturing Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation oi IllinoisApplication August 2, 1940, Serial No. 350,047

13 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in automobile hood latches andhas for one Purpose the provision of an improved `hood latch or latchesfor an automobile hood closure in which a pair of closure members ishinged along a generally horizontal axis extending along the length ofthe car.

Another purpose is the provision of closure means which shall be secureand emcient and which .will prevent rattling.

, Another purpose is the provision oi improved hood latches which may beactuated from within the drivers compartment and which cannot beactuated from outside the drivers compartment.

Another purpose is the provision of such hoodm Another purpose is theprovision oi' multiple.` and unitarily operated hood latches, and rattlepreventing means therefor, for the so-called butteriLv type hoodclosures.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the. course of thespecication and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagramin the accompanyingdrawings wherein: 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevationwith parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail on an enlarged scale, with parts in a diierentposition Fig. 'l is a section on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 0-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail; and

Fig. 10 illustrates a detail of a variation.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the speciilcationand drawings.-

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates an automobile hoodhaving a plurality of closures. 2, 2, hinged along the front and reargenerally horizontal axis, as at i. `Located Within the walls of thehood 2 are a plurality of plates 4, there being herein shown two withineach hood side wall. The plates 4 have lower flanges l spacing theplates from the inner face oi the and are shownas abutting against aninwardly extending ange 8 arranged along the top Aof each hood wall2.

It will be understood that the members4 cony stitute base plates whichmay be varied to suit any particular size or shape of hood, dependingupon the car to which my hood latches are applied.

I0 indicates a pivot pin on each plate 4, having a head il at one endand an offset portion I2 at the other. Rotatablel about the pin I0 is alever generally indicated as at I3, having an aperture I4, through'which the pin I0 passes. The lever has a lower arm I5, apertured as atI0, which may receive the-onset end I8 of any suitable connecting rodIl. -The connecting rod may be sllldably mounted and guided in anysuitable bracket I9, mounted upon the inner face oi' the hood I. as by aflange 20. The connecting rod has .an odset portion or eye 2l, adaptedto receive the end 22 of the actuating rod 2l, which may extend throughthe dashboard 24, and may terminate in any suitable manual operatingknob or member 25. A spring 26 normally holds the connecting rod I1 inthe advanced position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

It will be understood, of course, that one such connecting rod is shownat each side of the hood interior, and that there are two operatingknobs 25, one at each side oi' the car,'as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, eachside or closure 2 may be independently released from the interior of thecar. at each end to one of the lowex` lever arms I5, the two identicallatches being aligned along each sideI of the interior of the hood, asshown for example in Figs. 1 and 4.

The lever structure I3 has an upper arm 2l with an offset or top lug28.' It will be observed that the upper arm 2l isoutwardly bent, asshown in Fig. 8. In addition, the lever structure I3 has a generallycentral extension 29,`

adjacent the aperture I4, and with an actuating offset 30. which isadapted to engage a link 3i,

one end of which is in pivotal relation tothe pin I0, the other end ofwhich carries a transversely extending pin 32, having outer and innerends 33, I4, respectively. The inner end 34 extends through a slot 35 inthe plate 4. 'lihe ends are engaged respectively by one or more coilsprings 38,A 3l, secured at their lower ends to earsl or any suitableabutments 2l, 39, on the plate 4, or on the lower extension 5 thereof.It will be understood that the springs 38, 31 are tension members whichtend to hold the link Also, each connecting rod I1 is secured 3| overcenter of the pivot pin. I6 atone or another end of the slot 35. Whenthe pin is in the upper end of the slot 35, the eect of the spring is tohold it in engagement with said upper end. The lower end of the slot 35is sutilciently long, however, so that the pin is not necessarily heldthereagainst by the springs, to provide a certain flexibility in theholding etlect on the closure`2.

Pivoted upon an intermediate enlarged portion 40 of the pin 32, whichenlarged portion actually engages the slot 35, is the latch membergenerally indicated as 4I, which has a slot 42, through which extends aheaded pin 43, secured to an upper portion of the plate 4. The member 4Ihas a latching arm 44, with a latching nose 45, adapted to extend over alip 46 at one end of the slot 41, in the inwardly extending flange 48,along the bottom of the closure 2. It will be understood, ofcourse, thatany suitable abutment means may be employed, but what is important isthat the nose 45 may be slid over or hooked 'over some abutment partmounted on or secured to or associated with the closure 2. whereby thenose 45 will hold or assist in holding the closure 2 in closed positiondownwardly against the upper flange 8 of the hood wall I. However, it isnot necessary that the closure 2 actually abut against the flange 8 orthe interposed rubber bumper below described.

Note that the latch members 4| extend through slots 55 in the flange 8of the hood wall I. Preferably the ange 8 is of suicient width tooverlie the latch assemblies, in order to prevent outside tampering withthe levers I3.

48 is any suitable rubber body buffer or the like, preferably ofyielding material, which may, if desired, be interposed between theflanges 3 and 48, and which may be mounted either on the flange 1 or 48.

The latch member 4I has an additional arm 56, having a nose 5I adaptedto engage the lower side of the flange 48, and thereby to lift theclosure 2 when the latch structure 4I as a whole is given rotation,shown as clockwise in Fig. 6.

Referring to the position in which the parts are shown in Fig. 6, in thefull line position of Fig. 6, the rotation of the latch element 4| hasbeen effective to raise the closure 2 a substantial distance above theiiange 8 of the hood I, after it has been unlatched by the clockwisemovement of the nose 45 out of engagement with the lip or abutment 46.

It will be observed, as in Fig. 8, that the portion 58 has an additionalnose or extension 52,

which is in line or lies in the plane of the onset 23 of the upperleverarm 21 of the lever structure I3. It will be observed, in the dottedline position of Fig. 6, that when the portion 58 is given acounterclockwise movement, as by lowering the closure 2 downwardlyagainst the nose 5|, the portion 52 cams against the offset 28 andimparts a counterclockwise rotation to the lever structure I3.

When the parts are in locked position. as shown in Fig. 4, the offset 52of the member 50 is below the offset 28 of the lever arm 21. When inthis position, even though some outsider inserts a thin tool, screwdriver, or the like, into the crack between the anges 48 and 8, theonset 28 oi' the lever arm 26 is eiective to prevent sumcient.

clockwise rotation of the nose 45 to permit an undesired release of thelatch structure.

In the use of the device, and assuming that the parts are in thelockedposition in which they are shown in Fig. 4, the nose 45 of each latchstructure 4I is in locking position above any appropriate abutment 46.By employing two latches, as shown in Fig. 4, the forward and rear endsof each closure 2 are held firmly downwardly.

The springs 36, 31 tend to rotate the link 3| in a clockwise direction,thus drawing the latch structure 4I downwardly in relation to the ilxedpin 43, the slot 42 permitting a substantial downward movement.Preferably, the pin 43 is not seated in the upper end of the slot 42,since it is desirable to have a continuing yielding downward pull on themembers 45, which insures a firm closing contact and compensates forvariations in dimensions of the associated parts, bending under wear,and the like.

It will be observed that the links 3| have been rotated over center inrelation to the Isprings, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the springs 36, 31tend to draw the pins 32 downwardly toward the lower ends of the slots35. The latches are released by a rearward manual pull on the knobs 25.The initial result of this rearward pull is to impart a counterclockwiserotation to the lever structures I3. Some play is provided before themember 36 engages the link 3| to permit the oilset 28 of the lever arm21 to clear the offset 52 of the latch arm 50. Thereafter the member 30positively engages the link 3| and imparts a counterclockwise rotationto it, which raises the latch structure 4I, and thereafter tilts it orgives it a clockwise rotation, terminating in the full line position ofFig. 6. At the same time the nose 5I engages the bottom of the ange 48,and the result is a release of the latch noses 45, followed by apositive lifting of the closure 2. There is then provided suicient spacebetween the closure 2 and the upper edge of the hood I so that theoperator can insert his fingers and manually complete the-raising of theclosure or closures 2. Thereafter the operator releases the knobor knobs25, and the springs 36, 31 hold the link 3| over center in the full lineposition in which it is shown in Fig. 6, and the mere releasel of theknob or knobs 25 does not return the latching mechanism to initialposition, but, on the contrary, it is left in the full line position ofFig. 6. However, the eiIect of the springs 26 is to return the leverstructures I3 to their original position in which they are shown indotted line in Fig. 6. Thereafter, when the operator manually lowers theclosure or closures 2, the bottom liange 46, or any other' suitableabutment, engages the nose 5I and begins the rotation of the latchstructure 4|. This rotation rotates the link 3| and permits .the springs36, 31, once the link has moved over center, to draw the latch structureas a whole down into locking position. Meanwhile the nose 45 has rotatedinto locking position above the abutment lip y46.

Referring to Figs. aand 6, the full locking position .is shown in Fig.4; the full open position is shown in full line in Fig. 6; and theintermediate position of the member 4| is shown in dotted line in Fig.6. As above mentioned, one result of the downward movement of theclosure 2 is to'cause the member 52 to cam over the ofi'set 28 and tosnap Normally the weight of the closures, when it is manually dropped,is sufilcient to result in tle,

locking action. If for any reason the parts are stiii, of course theoperator can add a manual downward thrust until the link Il passes overcenter and the springs 3l, I1 become effective to lock the parts inposition.

' It will be understood that a single latch assembly or more than twomay be employed for each hood closure.

It will be realized that, whereas I have described and illustrated apractical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made inthe size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing fromthe spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawingsto be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, ratherthanvas limiting me to my precise showing.

For example, under some circumstances it is preferable, as shown in Fig.l0, to provide an enlargement lia at the lower end of the lever orlevers i5, and provide a plurality of apertures i6a whereby anadjustment in relation to the member I1 may be made, in order that theoperation of the two levers may be properly adjusted to compensate forvariations in the location or proportion of the parts. `This isparticularly useful in connection with assembly line practice wherethere may be slight variations in the point of attachment of the latchelements to the hood.

I claim:

1. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, a lever element pivoted to said hood, a manually operablecontrol element secured to and adapted to rotate the lever element,a`link pivoted concentrically with said lever element, a latch elementpivoted Y to said link and also pivoted to said hood. said latch elementbeing mounted for translation on said hood whereby the distanceseparating the pivotal connection between the latch element and thelinkkand the latch element and the hood, may be shifted as the linkrotates, said latch element including a latch portion and a closurelifting portion, andmeans for rotating said link in response to rotationof said lever element.

2. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, a lever element pivoted to said hood, a manually operablecon-i trol element secured to and adapted to rotatev the lever element,a link pivoted concentrically with said lever element, a latch elementpivoted to said link and also pivoted to said hood, said latch elementbeing mounted for translation on said hood whereby the distanceseparating the pivotal connection between the latch element and thelink,` and the latch element and the hood, may be shifted as the linkrotates, said latch element including a latch portion and a closurelifting portion, and means for rotating said link in response torotation of said lever element, and a tension element connecting thefree end of said link with said hood and adapted to urge said linktoward either end of its possible arc of movement when the outer end ofsaid link passes over center in relation to a line passing through thecenter of rotation of the link and the point of attachment of thetension member to the hood.

3. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, a lever element pivoted to said hood, a manually operablecontrol element secured to and adapted to rotate ually operable meansfor moving said actuating the lever element, a -link pivotedconcentrically with said lever element, a latch element pivoted to saidlink and also pivotedA to said hood, said latch element being mountedfor translation on said hood whereby the distance separating the pivotalconnection between the latch element and the link, and the latch elementand the hood, may be shifted as the link rotates, said latch elementincluding a latch portion and a closure lifting portion, and means forrotating said link inI response to rotation of said lever element, and atension element connecting the free end of said link with said hood andadapted to urge said link toward either end of its possible arc ofmovement when the outer end of said link passes over center in relationto a line passing through the center of rotation of the link and thepoint of attachment of the tension member to the hood, portions of thelatch element and the lever element lying in the same plane andoverlapping when the latch element is in latching position, wherebyunintended release of the latch element from latching position isprevented.

. 4. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, a latch pivoted to the hood, the pivotal connection betweenlatch and hood including a slot and pin adapted to permit translation ofsaid latch in relation to said with the pivot of said actuating lever,manually operable means for moving said actuating lever, and anactuating connection between said actuating lever and link adapted, inresponse to actuating movement of said manual control member, .to rotatesaid link and through the pivotal connection between said link and latchto impart a generally upward movement to said latch,vthe v relationshiplbetween the arcuate slot dening the movement of the outer end of thelink and of the slot defining the translation of the latch in relationto the closure being adapted to impart to the latch member of the latchla lateral closure releasing movement, while bringing the lifting memberof the latch into closure lifting position as the latch member is movedout of latching position.

5. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, a latch pivoted to the hood, the pivotal connection betweenlatch and hood including a slot and pin adapted to permit translation ofsaid latch in relation to said hood, said latch including a latchingmember and a closure lifting member, and means for vactuating saidlatch, including a control lever pivoted to said closure for rotationabout a: fixed pivot located below the pivot of said latch, a linkpivoted to said actuating lever, the opposite end of said link beingpivoted to said latch, manlever, and an actuating connection betweensaid actuating lever and link adapted, in response to actuating movementof said manual control member, to rotate said link and through thepivotal connection between said link and latch to impart a generallyupward movement to said'latch.

6. In a. latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closurelifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latchmember and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement oi'the latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latchmember from latching position to closure lifting position, including anactuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lowerthan the level of the floating pivotal connection between the latchmember and the hood, a link` pivoted at one end concentricaliy with saidactuating lever, and.pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member,means for manually moving said actuating lever, and means for rotatingsaid link in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasingposition only.

7. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closurelifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latchvmember and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement ofthe latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latchmember from latching position to closure lifting position, including anactuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lowerthan the level of the oating pivotal connection between the latch memberand the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with saidactuatinglever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member,means for manually moving said actuating lever, means for rotating saidlink in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasingposition only, and means for holding said latch member in closurelifting position after it has been moved thereto.

8. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closurelifting element, and a oating pivotal connection between the latchmember and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement of thelatch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch memberfrom latching position to closure lifting position. including anactuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lowerthan the level of the oating pivotal connection between the latch memberand the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with saidactuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member,means for manually moving said actuating lever, means for rotating saidlink in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasingposition only, and means for holding said latch member in closurelifting position after it has been moved thereto, including a yieldingconnection between the hood and said latch member.

9. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closurelifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latchmember and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement of thelatch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch memberfrom latching position to closure lifting position, including anactuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lowerthan the level of the oating pivotal connection between the latch memberand the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with saidactuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member,means for manually moving said actuating lever, means for rotating saidlink in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasingposition only, means for holding said latch member in closure liftingposition after it has been moved thereto, including a yieldingconnection between the hood and said latch member, adapted to hold thelatch member over center and eilective when the hood descends androtates the latch member to latching position to exert a. downward pullon the hood through the latch element, and stop means adapted to limitthe movement of the parts in response to the operation of said yieldingconnection when the latch member is over center.

l0. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, including a latch member having a latch element and aclosurelifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latchmember and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement oflthe latch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latchmember from latching position -to closure lifting position, including anactuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lowerthan the level of the floating pivotal 4connection between the latchmember and the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with saidactuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member,means for manually movingsaid actuating lever, means for rotating saidlink in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasingposition only, yielding means adapted to hold said latch member inlatching position when it has been moved to latching position, and tohold itin closure lifting position when it has been moved to closurelifting position, and stop means adapted to limit the movement of theparts in response to the operation of said yielding connection when thelatch member is over center.-

1l. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, including a latch member having a latch element and a closurelifting element, and a floating pivotal connection between the latchmember and the hood permitting bodily generally vertical movement of thelatch member in relation to the hood, means for moving the latch memberfrom latching position to closure lifting position, including anactuating lever mounted on the hood for rotation about a pivot lowerthan the level of the floating pivotal connection between the latchmember and the hood, a link pivoted at one end concentrically with saidactuating lever, and pivoted at its opposite end to the latch member,means for manually moving said actuating lever, means for rotating saidlink in response to movement of said actuating lever to releasingposition only, yielding means adapted to hold said latch member in`latching position and to exert through said latch member a downward pullon the hood, and slop means adapted to limit the movement of the partsin response to the operation loi said yielding connection when the latchmember is over the latch member in relation to the hood, means formoving the latch member from latching position to closure liftingposition, including an actuating lever mounted on the hood for rotationabout a pivot lower than the level of the oatin pivotal connectionbetween the latch member and the hood, a link pivoted at one endconcentrically with said actuating lever, and pivoted at its oppositeend to the latch member, means for manually moving said actuatinglever',means for rotating said link in response to movement of said actuatinglever to releasing position only, and means for preventing undesiredmovement of the latch member from latching position to Y closure liftingposition, including a member adapted to overlie the closure liftingelement when the latch member is in latching position.

13. In a latch structure for automobile hoods and movable closurestherefor, including a latch between the latch member and the hoodpermitting bodily generally vertical movement of the latch member inrelation to the hood, means for moving the latch member from latchingposition to closure lifting position, including an actuating levermounted on the hood itor rotation about a pivot lower than the level vofthe floating 4pivotal connection between the latch member and the hood,a link pivotedat one end yconcentrically with said actuating lever, andpivoted at its opposite end to the latch member, means for -manuallymoving said actuating lever, means for rotating said link in response tomovement of said I actuating lever to releasing position only, and

means for controlling said actuating lever, in-

cluding a tension member7 extending to the interior of the automobile',said actuating lever including a portion adapted to overlie said closurelifting element when the .latching lever is in member having a latchelement and a closure 20 latching POSltiOnlifting element, and afloating pivotal connection y WALTER H. muiUsE.y

